Indication of trickplay availability via a remote control device

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a controllability indicator at a portable communication device, the controllability indicator received from a stationary communication device. The controllability indicator indicates whether a trickplay feature is available for controlling a presentation of multimedia content, and is determined from a characterization of the multimedia content. The method further includes presenting a trickplay indicator at the portable communication device according to the controllability indicator to indicate whether the trickplay feature is available. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/107,884 filed Apr. 23, 2008, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to processing of multimediacontent, and more particularly, to the indication of trickplayavailability via a remote control device.

BACKGROUND

Many multimedia content formats facilitate the implementation of one ormore trickplay features (e.g., pause, fast-forward, fast-reverse, skip,seek, etc.) in the presentation of the associated multimedia content.For other multimedia content formats, however, one or more of thesetrickplay features may be unavailable for other multimedia streams,either as a result of an intended disabling of certain trickplayfeatures for digital rights management (DRM) purposes or due to aninherent technical limitation of the format, encoding technique, or themanner in how or where the content is stored. To illustrate, if futurecontent has not yet been received for multimedia program, a fast-forwardtrickplay feature necessarily cannot yet be implemented. It often is notapparent to a user as to which multimedia streams are enabled to supporttrickplay features and which are not so enabled.

Single-source implementations sometimes are configured to notify theuser that a trickplay feature is unavailable for the presentation of themultimedia content in response to a user's attempt to initiate thetrickplay feature. For example, certain digital versatile disk (DVD)players are configured so as to provide an icon for display at atelevision when the user attempts to initiate certain trickplay featuresduring playback of a trickplay-disabled section of a DVD (e.g., when auser attempts to skip or fast forward through the presentation of thecopyright notice that is often found at the start of a motion picture).The current focus in the delivery of multimedia content is the gatheringof multimedia content from disparate sources and the presentation ofsuch content in a unified and uniform manner through a set-top box orother device at a user's premises. Under this scheme, the user may notbe aware of the source of the multimedia content or the manner of itsencoding, formatting, or transmission and thus may not know whichtrickplay features are available as the user otherwise would if therewas only a single source of multimedia content. This unified, uniformdelivery of multimedia content therefore can exacerbate a user'sconfusion regarding whether trickplay features are available for a givenmultimedia stream. Such confusion can lead to user frustration when theuser attempts to initiate an unavailable trickplay feature and does notobserve the expected result. Accordingly, an improved technique fornotifying a user of the availability of trickplay features would beadvantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a multimedia system having avisual indication of availability of one or more trickplay features inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectively providingfor display a visual indication of availability of one or more trickplayfeatures in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example implementation of themethod of FIG. 2 in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the display of visual indicators in theexample implementation of FIG. 3 in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating another example implementation ofthe method of FIG. 2 in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the display of visual indicators in theexample implementation of FIG. 5 in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example technique for an arrayeddisplay of graphical representations of the plurality of multimediastreams in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example technique for an electronicprogram guide (EPG)-type listing of the plurality of multimedia streamsin accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a multimedia system having aremote control device configured to provide an indication ofavailability of one or more trickplay features in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing anindication of availability of one or more trickplay features via aremote control device in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example implementation of themethod of FIG. 10 in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating another example implementation ofthe method of FIG. 10 in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a remote control device configured toprovide a visual indication of availability of one or more trickplayfeatures via one or more light sources in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are diagrams illustrating a remote control deviceconfigured to provide a visual indication of availability of one or moretrickplay features via one or more soft buttons of a touch screen inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectivelyoutputting an indicator of availability of one or more trickplayfeatures at a remote control in response to detecting motion of theremote control in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) network in which the multimedia systems of FIGS. 1 and9 can be implemented in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example computer system forimplementing one or more of the components or techniques describedherein in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to the presently preferred exampleembodiments. However, it should be understood that this class ofembodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous usesof the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in thespecification of the present application do not necessarily delimit anyof the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may applyto some inventive features but not to others.

Related subject matter is contained in the following co-pendingapplication: application Ser. No. 12/107,885, attorney docket number7785-0749, filed on Apr. 23, 2008, entitled “Indication of TrickplayAvailability for Selected Multimedia Stream,” invented by James CarltonBedingfield, Sr. and John Stefanik, and assigned to the assignee hereof.

FIGS. 1-18 illustrate example techniques for notifying a user of theavailability status of one or more trickplay features for a givenmultimedia stream. In one embodiment, the user is able to select amultimedia stream from a plurality of available multimedia streams fromone or more sources. The availability of one or more trickplay featuresfor the selected multimedia stream is determined in response to theselection of the multimedia stream from the plurality of availablemultimedia streams. A visual indicator, an audible indicator, or bothare selectively provided for display/output based on the determinedavailability status of the corresponding trickplay feature. Theselective provision of a trickplay indicator can include providing afirst trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is available andproviding a second, different trickplay indicator when the trickplayfeature is unavailable. Alternately, the selective provision of atrickplay indicator includes providing the trickplay indicator when thetrickplay feature is unavailable and omitting provision of the trickplayindicator when the trickplay feature is available, or vice versa. Inanother embodiment, a trickplay indicator of the availability status ofa trickplay feature can be provided via a remote control device utilizedby the user. The trickplay indicator can include a visual indicator, anaudible indicator, or both. The provision of the trickplay indicator canbe in response to temporarily selecting a multimedia stream (e.g.,providing focus to the corresponding listing entry in an electronicprogramming guide), in response to the initiation (or reinitation) ofthe presentation of the multimedia content of the multimedia stream, inresponse to detection motion of the remote control device, orcombinations thereof. The trickplay indicator can be selectivelyprovided at the remote control device, i.e., different indicators can beprovided based on the availability status, the provision or omission ofprovision of an indicator can be based on the availability status, or acombination thereof.

The term “multimedia content” refers to video content, audio content, ora combination thereof The term “multimedia stream” refers to a datagrouping (a data stream, a data file, etc.) representative of associatedmultimedia content. The term “trickplay feature” refers to apresentation (or “playback”) of multimedia content at a different rate(zero or non-zero) than the normal/standard presentation rate, in areverse direction of the normal/standard presentation direction, or acombination thereof Trickplay features include, but are not limited to,pausing playback, stopping playback, slow playback, fast forwardplayback (at one or more rates), reverse playback, slow reverseplayback, fast reverse playback (at one or more rates), frame advance,scene/chapter advance (“skip”), scene/chapter reverse, advance to thebeginning or end of the program, advance forward or reverse X seconds,and the like.

For ease of illustration, certain techniques disclosed herein aredescribed in an example context of an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) network utilizing a multimedia receiver (e.g., a set top box(STB) device) at a user's premises to interface between a displaydevice, such as a television, monitor or display screen, and themultimedia content distribution network of a service provider. However,these techniques also can be implemented in other contexts withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. In the context of arelatively fixed multimedia receiver, a user's premises can include, forexample, a residence or place of work of the user, a car, a boat, anairplane or other vehicle, and the like. In the context of a portablemultimedia receiver, such as a multimedia-enabled cellular phone, auser's premises can include the user's personal space while operatingthe multimedia receiver.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example multimedia system 100 configured toprovide a visual indication of an availability of one or more trickplayfeatures in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The multimedia system 100 includes a multimedia receiver 102and a display device 104 at a user's premises, and one or more local orremote multimedia sources of multimedia streams, such as a digital videorecorder (DVR) 106, a service provider 108 (e.g., a cable or satellitetelevision provider), an Internet source (e.g., a web page) 110, or alocally-connected personal computer (PC) 112 or other home entertainmentdevice (referred to collectively as “multimedia sources 106-112”). Themultimedia receiver 102 can include, for example, a set top box (STB)device, a digital network radio receiver, a portable multimedia device(e.g., a multimedia-enable cellular phone or a digital radio receiver),and the like.

In the depicted example, the multimedia receiver 102 includes a sourceinterface 114, a content processing and storage module 116 (hereinafter,content processing/storage module 116″), a trickplay controller 118, aremote control interface 120, a display controller 122, and a displayinterface 124. The source interface 114 is configured to receivemultimedia streams from some or all of the multimedia sources 106-112.The source interface 114 can include a plurality of sub-interfaces, eachto interface with one or a subset of the multimedia sources 106-112. Forexample, the source interface 114 could include a High-DefinitionMultimedia Interface (HDMI)-type interface to connect to the DVR 106, anetwork interface (e.g., an Ethernet interface) to connect to a networkgateway (e.g., a cable modem or a digital subscriber line (DSL) line),which in turn is connected to the service provider 108 and the Internetsource 110 via a private or public network, and a wireless interface(e.g., an IEEE 802.11 interface) to connect to the PC 112. Themultimedia receiver 102 further implements a software and hardwareenvironment (not shown) that manages the functions of the multimediareceiver 102 and one or more busses, switch fabrics, or otherinterconnects so as to facilitate high-speed, bi-directional signalingand transportation of content and command information between functionalcomponents of the multimedia receiver 102.

The remote control interface 120 comprises any of a variety of wirelessinterfaces (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) interface or an infraredinterface, etc.) and is configured to wirelessly receive user input 126from a remote control device 128 and provide the user input 126, or arepresentation thereof, to the content processing/storage module 116 andthe trickplay controller 120. The user input 126 can include any of avariety of commands, including source/channel selection, trickplayfeature selection for a multimedia stream being displayed, and the like.

The content processing/storage module 116 includes one or moremultimedia processing engines for processing incoming multimedia streamsin accordance with their encoding formats so as to render displaycontent (and audio content) for output to the display device 104. Forexample, the content processing/storage module 116 can include an MPEG-2or MPEG-4 decoder for incoming MPEG streams, a National TelevisionStandards Committee (NTSC) receiver or an Advanced Television SystemsCommittee (ATSC) receiver for multimedia streams transmitted inaccordance with the NTSC standard or the ATSC standard, respectively. Asanother example, the multimedia processing engine can include aprocessor and software (or hardware-based implementation) configured todecode incoming multimedia content encoded in accordance with any of avariety of video file formats, such as the Audio Video Interleave (AVI)format, the Google™ Video (GVI) format, the Apple™ Quicktime™ format,the RealPlayer™ streaming video format, and the like. The contentprocessing/storage module 116 further can includes a digital rightsmanagement (DRM) controller, an electronic (or “enhanced”) programmingguide (EPG) controller, and the like. The content processing/storagemodule 116 further can include one or more buffers or other storagedevices to buffer a received multimedia stream so as to enableprocessing of the received multimedia stream, particularly for use inimplementing certain trickplay features (if enabled). Alternately, thebuffering capability can be implemented external to the multimediareceiver 102 (e.g., at the DVR 106). In addition to, or instead of,implementing trickplay functionality locally at the contentprocessing/storage module 116, in one embodiment the contentprocessing/storage module 116 is configured to communicate with thesource of the multimedia stream so as to implement a desired trickplayfeature at the source as it is providing the multimedia stream (or atrickplay version of it) to the multimedia receiver 102.

Further, in one embodiment, the content processing/storage module 116 isconfigured to filter content, as in a program guide (EPG) display, toonly show or list programs with (or, alternately, without) trickplaycapabilities. For instance, a user may want to only see video-on-demand(VOD) content that has full trickplay features listed in a particularEPG. Additionally, in one embodiment, the content processing/storagemodule 116 is configured to determine if a selected program withno/limited trickplay functionality is available from another source withfull trickplay functionality, and if so, provide the user the option ofplaying the other version.

The trickplay controller 118 is configured to determine the availabilityof one or more identified trickplay features for a multimedia stream inresponse to the user's selection of the multimedia stream (e.g., via theuser input 126) and provide one or more controllability indicators 130to the display controller 122 based on the availability of the one ormore identified trickplay features. The controllability indicator 130represents the availability of the corresponding trickplay feature forthe selected multimedia stream. The controllability indicator 130 can beimplemented as, for example, a single-bit or multiple-bit datatransmission, a transmission of a signal at a particular frequencyassociated with the corresponding availability, and the like. A singlecontrollability indicator 130 can be sent for all of the trickplayfeatures being analyzed, or a separate controllability indicator 130 canbe sent for each trickplay feature. For example, if the trickplaycontroller 118 is configured to determine the availability of each ofthe fast reverse, fast forward, and skip features of the selectedmultimedia stream, the trickplay controller 118 can send a separatecontrollability indicator 130 for each of the fast reverse, fastforward, and skip features, or a single controllability indicator 130can be sent so as to represent that either each of the trickplayfeatures is available or to represent that one or more of the trickplayfeatures is unavailable.

The trickplay controller 118 can determine the availability of one ormore trickplay features for a selected multimedia stream in any of avariety of manners. In some instances, the trickplay controller 118 maydetermine the availability of a trickplay feature based on the source ofthe selected multimedia stream. Alternately, the trickplay controller118 can determine the availability of a trickplay feature based on theencoding format of the selected multimedia stream or in the manner inwhich it is transmitted. To illustrate, certain encoding formats do notsupport (or have disabled) certain trickplay features and thus thetrickplay controller 118 can automatically determine the availability ofa trickplay feature if the multimedia stream is encoded in one of theseencoding format. In another example, the trickplay controller 118 candetermine that certain trickplay features are not available based on thebuffered portion of the multimedia stream. To illustrate, if the contentbeing processed for presentation is the most recent content available atthe multimedia receiver 102, then a fast-forward trickplay feature isnot available at that point. In another embodiment, the selectedmultimedia stream may be transmitted to the multimedia receiver 102along with metadata that indicates the availability of certain trickplayfeatures for some or all of the segments of the multimedia content andthus the trickplay controller 118 can determine the availability ofcertain trickplay features for a selected multimedia stream from thismetadata. The metadata may be native to the encoding format or thesource may add the metadata after encoding of the multimedia content.

The display controller 122 is configured to determine one or more visualindicators 132 to be displayed (if any) based on the availability of oneor more corresponding trickplay features as represented by thecontrollability indicator 130. The visual indicator 132 is used toindicate to the user an availability of the corresponding trickplayfeature for the multimedia content program selected by the user. In oneembodiment, the visual indicator 132 can be provided for display when aparticular trickplay feature is unavailable for the selected multimediastream. Alternately, the visual indicator 132 can be provided fordisplay when a particular trickplay feature is available for theselected multimedia stream. In another embodiment, one visual indicator132 can be provided when the trickplay feature is available, anddifferent visual indicator 132 can be provided when the trickplayfeature is not available. As described in greater detail herein, thevisual indicator 132 can be implemented in any of a variety of manners.To illustrate, the visual indicator 132 can be implemented so that aparticular symbol, shape, color, intensity, shading, display position,or other feature conveys the availability status of the correspondingtrickplay feature to the user. For example, a visual indicator havingone shape or color can be provided to indicate to the user that thetrickplay feature is available, while a visual indicator having adifferent shape or color can be provided to indicate the user that thetrickplay feature is unavailable. As another example, a visual indicatorcan be provided for display when the trickplay feature is unavailable,and provision of the visual indicator is omitted when the trickplayfeature is available.

If one or more visual indicators 132 are to be provided for display, thedisplay controller 122 can generate an overlay layer with the one ormore visual indicators 132 and provides the display content from thecontent processing/storage module 116 and the overlay layer to thedisplay interface 124 for output for display on the display device 104,either as a single blended layer or as separate image layers forsubsequent blending. Otherwise, if no visual indicator 132 is to beprovided, the display controller 122 provides the display content to thedisplay interface 124 without an overlay layer. The display interface124 is configured to transmit signaling to control the display device104 based on the output content. The display interface 124 can includeany of a variety of interfaces to the display device 112, such as adigital video interface (DVI), a high-definition multimedia receiver(HDMI), an S-video interface, a composite video interface (e.g., acoaxial cable interface), a component video interface, and the like. Thedisplay interface 124 further can include an audio interface forproviding audio signaling to the display device 104.

The content processing/storage module 116, the trickplay controller 118and the display controller 122 can be implemented as software, hardware,firmware, or combinations thereof. For example, in one embodiment one ormore of the content processing/storage module 116, the trickplaycontroller, or the display controller 122 each includes a computerreadable medium (e.g., a memory, cache, optical disk drive, or a harddisk) (not shown) to store a program of instructions and one or moreprocessors (not shown), whereby the program of instructions isexecutable by the one or more processors to manipulate the one or moreprocessors so as to perform the techniques described herein with respectto the respective data processing module. As another example, theyalternately can be implemented as one or more logic-based hardware statemachines to implement the techniques described herein.

In an implementation of the multimedia receiver 102 as a singleintegrated device, such as a wireless multimedia phone, a portablecomputer, or gaming device, one or more button panels of the singleintegrated device can be implemented in place of the remote controldevice 128, the button panels including hard buttons, soft buttons, orcombinations thereof, and the trickplay indicator can be shown on anembedded display or using key illumination as described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 of operation of the multimedia system100 of FIG. 1 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. At block 202, the content processing/storage module 116identifies the one or more multimedia streams from the multimediasources 106-112 that are available for selection at the multimediareceiver 102. The content processing/storage module 116 then provides arepresentation of the available multimedia streams for display on thedisplay device 104 so as to facilitate a user's selection of one of theavailable multimedia streams. As discussed in greater detail below withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the available multimedia streams can be madeavailable for selection via an array display of graphicalrepresentations of the visual content of at least a subset of theavailable multimedia streams or via display of an electronic (or“enhanced”) programming guide (EPG) or other listing of availablemultimedia streams.

At block 204, the user can manipulate one or more button features of theremote control device 128 (or alternately a button panel interface onthe multimedia receiver 102) to generate user input 126 that directs themultimedia receiver 102 to select a particular multimedia stream. Theselection of the multimedia stream can include directing the multimediareceiver 102 to initiate display of the multimedia stream, or theselection of the multimedia stream can include a temporary selection ofa graphical representation of the multimedia stream from a displayedarray or from an EPG or other displayed listing.

In response to the user's selection of an available multimedia stream,at block 206 the content processing/storage module 116 providesinformation regarding the selected multimedia stream to the trickplaycontroller 118. This information can include, for example, metadataembedded in the selected multimedia stream, information regarding theencoding format or source of the multimedia stream, and the like. Fromthis information, the trickplay controller 118 determines theavailability of one or more trickplay features for the selectedmultimedia stream as described above, and provides one or morecontrollability indicators 130 based on the determined availability tothe display controller 122.

At block 208, the display controller 122 determines which, if any,visual indicators 132 to overlay the display content being provided tothe display device 104 based on the one or more received controllabilityindicators. If one or more visual indicators 132 are to be provided, thedisplay controller 122 generates an overlay layer having the visualindicators 132 and then provides the display content and the overlaylayer (e.g., as a combined video layer via blending) to the displaydevice 104 for display. As noted above, the selection of an availablemultimedia stream can include the temporary selection of a graphicalrepresentation of the multimedia stream from a plurality of graphicalrepresentations of multimedia streams, and thus the display content withwhich the visual indicator 132 is provided may not be video content fromthe selected multimedia stream but instead EPG content, video contentfrom another multimedia stream, etc.

The display of a visual indicator 132 can occur briefly or for anextended duration. To illustrate, in the event that a visual indicator132 is to be provided when a particular trickplay feature isunavailable, the visual indicator 132 can be displayed for a briefperiod (e.g., five seconds) so as to initially inform the user that thetrickplay feature is unavailable for the selected multimedia contentchannel. Alternately, the visual indicator 132 can be displayed for theduration that the multimedia content channel is selected or provided fordisplay. To illustrate, for display of a visual indicator 132 based onselection of a multimedia channel during display of an EPG, the visualindicator 132 can be displayed for a brief period or displayed as longas the EPG program selection feature remains on the selected multimediastream. Similarly, if the selection of the multimedia content channelresults in the display of its video content (e.g., as a normalpresentation), the visual indicator 132 can be displayed for only abrief period at the start of the presentation of the video content orfor the duration of the presentation of the video content (or for atleast the portion of the video content for which the trickplayavailability indicated by the visual indicator 132 is valid).

FIG. 3 illustrates a particular implementation of the process performedat block 208 of method 200 of FIG. 2 in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. In the implementation of FIG. 3,one visual indicator 132 is provided to indicate an availability of atrickplay feature or a different visual indicator 132 is provided toindicate an unavailability of the trickplay feature in response toselection of the multimedia stream. At block 302, the trickplay featureis identified as either available or unavailable. If the trickplayfeature is available, at block 304 the display controller 122 provides afirst visual indicator for display. Otherwise, if the trickplay featureis unavailable, at block 306 the display controller 122 provides asecond visual indicator for display, where the second visual indicatorvisually differs from the first visual indicator in a manner thatconveys the availability status of the trickplay feature to a user. Toillustrate, the first visual indicator can have a green coloration(thereby indicating trickplay availability) and the second visualindicator can have a red coloration (thereby indicating trickplayunavailability). Other possible distinctions between the first andsecond visual indicators include, but are not limited to, luminosity,degree of transparency, size, shape, shading, location, position,orientation, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example process of selectivelyproviding a visual indicator in accordance with the implementation ofFIG. 3 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In the depicted example, a display 402 of the multimediacontent 404 of a first multimedia stream and a display 406 of themultimedia content 408 of a second multimedia stream at the displaydevice 104 are shown. For this example, it is assumed that the fastforward trickplay feature is available for the first multimedia streamand unavailable for the second multimedia stream. Accordingly, thedisplay 402 can include, for example, a visual indicator 410 in the formof a “fast forward” symbol, thereby conveying to the user that the fastforward trickplay feature is available. In contrast the display 404 caninclude, for example, a visual indicator in the form of a “ban” or “no”symbol, thereby conveying to the user that the fast forward trickplayfeature is unavailable. As noted above, other visual characteristics,such as color, intensity, pattern, shape, and the like can be used tosignal either an availability or unavailability of one or more trickplayfeatures.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example implementation of the processperformed at block 208 of method 200 of FIG. 2 in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the implementation ofFIG. 4, a visual indicator 132 is provided to indicate an unavailabilityof a trickplay feature or display of a visual indicator 132 is omittedto indicate an availability of the trickplay feature in response toselection of the multimedia stream. At block 502, the trickplay featureis identified as either available or unavailable for a multimedia streamin response to its selection from a plurality of available multimediastreams. If the trickplay feature is unavailable, at block 504 thedisplay controller 122 provides a visual indicator 132 for display so asto indicate to the user that the trickplay feature is unavailable forthe selected multimedia stream. Otherwise, if the trickplay feature isavailable, at block 506 the display controller 122 omits provision ofthe visual indicator 132 for display, whereby the absence of thedisplayed visual indicator informs the user that the trickplay featureis available. In an alternate embodiment, a visual indicator 132 can beprovided for display to indicate an availability of the trickplayfeature and display of the visual indicator 132 can be omitted toindicate an unavailability of the trickplay feature.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example process of selectivelyproviding a visual indicator in accordance with the implementation ofFIG. 5 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In the depicted example, a display 602 of the multimediacontent 604 of a first multimedia stream and a display 606 of themultimedia content 608 of a second multimedia stream at the displaydevice 104 are shown. For this example, it is assumed that a certaintrickplay feature is unavailable for the first multimedia stream andavailable for the second multimedia stream. Accordingly, the display 602can include, for example, a visual indicator 610 in the form of a “ban”or “no” symbol, thereby conveying to the user that the trickplay featureis unavailable in response to the user's selection of the firstmultimedia stream. In contrast, the display 604 does not include avisual indicator (the absence of a visual indicator is represented bydashed lines 612 in the outline of the “ban” symbol), thereby conveyingto the user that the user can implement the trickplay feature for thesecond multimedia stream if the user so elects.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example technique for selecting a multimediastream from a plurality of multimedia streams available at a multimediareceiver in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In one embodiment, a graphical representation of each of theplurality of available multimedia streams (or a subset thereof) can bedisplayed in an array (e.g., a mosaic) and the user can at leasttemporarily select one of the plurality of available multimedia streamsby manipulating a selection mechanism to focus on the graphicalrepresentation associated with the multimedia stream. To illustrate,graphical representations 701-704 can be provided for concurrent displayin an array 706 on the display device 104 for four multimedia streamsavailable for selection at the multimedia receiver 102 (FIG. 1), wherebythe graphical representations 701-704 can include still image capturesof the multimedia content of the corresponding multimedia stream, videoclips of the multimedia content of the corresponding multimedia stream,or combinations thereof. The user can navigate a highlight feature 708to the graphical representation (e.g., graphical representation 701) ofa desired multimedia stream, in response to which a visual indicator 710can be provided for display based on the availability of one or moretrickplay features for the selected multimedia stream. The visualindicator 710 can be displayed within the area of the selected graphicalrepresentation, proximate to a border of the selected graphicalrepresentation, or in a predetermined location of the display of thedisplay device 104 (e.g., the bottom right corner of the display). Thehighlight feature 708 can be in the form of a border of a certain coloror luminosity, a change in the color, luminosity, or transparency of theselected graphical representation, the presence of a symbol on or nearthe selected graphical representation, and the like.

In addition to, or instead of, determining and providing for display avisual indicator of the availability of a trickplay feature for amultimedia stream in response to its selection by a user, in oneembodiment, the multimedia receiver 102 can provide a visual indicatorof the availability of one or more trickplay features for some or all ofthe multimedia streams represented in the array 706. The multimediareceiver 102 can determine the availability of a trickplay feature foreach of the four multimedia streams represented by graphicalrepresentations 701-704 and then selectively provide a visual indicatorfor display in association with the corresponding graphicalrepresentation. To illustrate, in the example of FIG. 7 the trickplayfeature is available for the second, third, and fourth multimediastreams (corresponding to graphical representations 702-704) and isunavailable for the first multimedia stream (corresponding to thegraphical representation 701). Accordingly, the multimedia receiver 102can provide the visual indicator 710 in the form of a “ban” or “no”symbol in association with the graphical representation 701 and omitprovision of the “ban” or “no” symbol for the graphical representations702-704.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example technique for selecting a multimediastream from a plurality of multimedia streams available at a multimediareceiver in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of availablemultimedia streams (or a subset thereof) is represented in a listing,such as a displayed EPG, whereby the user can at least temporarilyselect one of the plurality of available multimedia streams bymanipulating a selection mechanism to focus on the graphicalrepresentation associated with the multimedia stream within the listing.In the depicted example of FIG. 8, each of the available multimediastreams is represented in an EPG 802 as a listing entry based on channelnumber or other channel/source identifier, time (for non-on-demandcontent), etc. Each listing entry can include, for example, a name ortitle, a description, a rating, etc. The user can navigate a highlightfeature 808 to the listing entry (e.g., listing entry 806) of a desiredmultimedia stream, in response to which a visual indicator 810 can beprovided for display based on the availability of one or more trickplayfeatures for the selected multimedia stream. The visual indicator 810can be displayed within the area of the selected listing entry,proximate to a border of the selected listing entry, or in apredetermined location 812 of the EPG 802. As with the highlight feature708 of FIG. 7, the highlight feature 808 can be in the form of a borderof a certain color or luminosity, a change in the color, luminosity, ortransparency of the selected listing entry, the presence of a symbol onor near the selected listing entry, and the like.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example multimedia system 900 configured toprovide an indication of an availability of one or more trickplayfeatures via a remote control device in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. The multimedia system 900 includesa multimedia receiver 902 and the display device 104 at a user'spremises, and one or more local or remote multimedia sources ofmultimedia streams, such as multimedia sources 106-112. As with themultimedia receiver 102 of FIG. 1, the depicted multimedia receiver 902includes the source interface 114, the content processing/storage module116, and the display interface 124. The multimedia receiver 102 furtherincludes a trickplay controller 918 (corresponding to the trickplaycontroller 118, FIG. 1) and a remote control interface 920(corresponding to the remote control interface 120, FIG. 1) to interfacewith a remote control device 928. The multimedia receiver 920 furthercan include the display controller 122 of FIG. 1, which is omitted inFIG. 9 for ease of discussion.

As described above, the source interface 114 is configured to receivemultimedia streams from some or all of the multimedia sources 106-112and the content processing/storage module 116 is configured to selectand process one or more of the received multimedia streams, along withadditional content (e.g., an EPG), for display at the display device 104via the display controller 124. The remote interface 920 is configuredto receive user input 926 from the remote control device 928 or otherinput source. Further, the remote interface 920 includes a transmitterto transmit information to the remote control device 928, including oneor more controllability indicators 930 as described below. Thetransmitter of the remote interface 920 can include a wirelesstransmitter, such an infrared or RF transmitter.

Similar to the trickplay controller 118 of FIG. 1, the trickplaycontroller 918 is configured to determine the availability of one ormore identified trickplay features for a multimedia stream selectedbased on user input 926 received from the remote control device 928 orfrom another input, and then provide, via the remote interface 920, oneor more controllability indicators 930 to the remote control device 928based on the availability of the one or more identified trickplayfeatures. The controllability indicator 930 represents the availabilityof the corresponding trickplay feature for the multimedia streamselected or displayed. A single controllability indicator 930 can besent for all of the trickplay features being analyzed, or a separatecontrollability indicator 930 can be sent for each trickplay feature.The trickplay controller 918 further can provide the one or morecontrollability indicators 930 to the display controller 122 (not shownin FIG. 9) for the selective display of one or more visual indicators132 on the display device 104 as described above.

In one embodiment, the remote control device 928 includes a wirelessinterface 930, a control module 932 (e.g., a microcontroller, ahardware-based state controller, a processor and software, etc.) and abutton panel 934. The wireless interface 930 can include a RF interface(e.g., an IEEE 802.11 interface, a Bluetooth™ interface, etc.), aninfrared interface, etc. The remote control device 928 further caninclude means for rendering a trickplay indicator so as to convey to theuser the availability status of one or more trickplay features. Thesemeans can include one or more of a touch screen 936 or other displayscreen, a light emitting diode (LED) bank 938 of one or more LEDs orother light sources, a speaker 940, and the like. In one embodiment,part or all of the button panel 934 is implemented as soft buttons atthe touch screen 936. Additionally, the remote control device 928 caninclude a motion sensor to detect motion of the remote control device928, whereby a detected motion can trigger the remote control device 928to redisplay a visual indicator or again output an audible indicator ofthe availability of one or more trickplay features. The motion sensor942 can include, for example, an inertial sensor, a light sensor, andthe like.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 of an example operation of themultimedia system 900 of FIG. 9 in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. For purposes of this example,those processes represented by blocks to the left of dashed line 1001are performed at the multimedia receiver 102 and those processesrepresented by blocks to the right of the dashed line 1001 are performedat the remote control device 928.

At block 1002, the user manipulates the one or more button features(e.g., push buttons, switches, arrow pad, soft keys, etc.) of the buttonpanel 934 of the remote control device 928 to send the user input 926 tothe multimedia receiver 902, whereby the user input 926 can include userinput indicating selection of a particular multimedia stream. At block1004, the trickplay controller 918 of the multimedia receiver 902determines the availability status of one or more trickplay features ofthe selected multimedia stream. At block 1006, the trickplay controller918 selectively provides, via the remote control interface 920, one ormore controllability indicators 930 to the remote control device 928based on the availability of the trickplay features.

At block 1008, the control module 932 of the remote control device 928determines whether any controllability indicator 930 has been received.If so, at block 1010 the control module 932 processes the one or morecontrollability indicators 930 and manipulates one or more outputdevices (e.g., the LED bank 938, the speaker 940, and the touch screen936) so as to provide to the user an indicator of the availability ofthe corresponding trickplay feature for the selected multimedia stream.

To illustrate, the LED bank 938 can include an LED associated with oneor more trickplay features and the control module 932 can activate ordeactivate the LED based on the availability of the correspondingtrickplay feature. For example, the LED bank 938 could include a singleLED associated with trickplay whereby the LED is activated whentrickplay is available for the selected multimedia stream is availableand deactivated when trickplay is not available (or vice versa). Theactivation of an LED can include maintaining the LED in an active stateif already activated, and the deactivation of an LED can includemaintaining the LED in an inactive state if already deactivated. Asanother example, the LED bank 938 could include a LED for each of anumber of trickplay features, whereby the LED is located proximal to thebutton of the button panel 934 associated with the trickplay feature orthe LED serves as a backlighting source for the button associated withthe trickplay feature. The LED for a given trickplay feature thereforecould be activated or deactivated based on the availability of thattrickplay feature.

As yet another example, an LED having one output color could beactivated to indicate availability of a certain trickplay feature, whilean LED having a different output color could be activated to indicateunavailability of the trickplay feature. To illustrate, the buttonassociated with the trickplay feature (e.g., the fast forward button)could be implemented with transparent or translucent material so thatthe button glows different colors depending on availability of thetrickplay feature. The provision of a visual indicator of theavailability of a trickplay feature via one or more LEDs can beinitiated in response to a user's manipulation of a button feature thatis associated with the trickplay feature. An illustrative use of an LEDto provide a visual indicator is described in greater detail below withreference to FIG. 13.

Rather than, or in addition to, the use of LEDs or other light sourcesto provide a visual indicator of trickplay availability, the controlmodule 932 can play a certain sound via the speaker 940 so as to providean audible indicator of the availability of the trickplay feature to theuser. The sound can be automatically played in response to receiving thecorresponding controllability indicator 930, or the sound can be playedin response to the user's selection of the button associated with thetrickplay feature. To illustrate, assuming that a controllabilityindicator 930 indicates that a slow reverse feature is unavailable for amultimedia stream being presented, the control module 932 can controlthe speaker 940 to play a certain audible notifier whenever the userselects the slow reverse button in the button panel 934 while themultimedia stream is being presented.

Further, in one embodiment, certain trickplay features may beimplemented as soft buttons at the touch screen 936 of the remotecontrol device 928. Thus, the control module 932 can provide a visualindicator of trickplay availability to a user by configuring the touchscreen 936 so as to manipulate the appearance of these soft buttonsbased on the availability of the corresponding trickplay features. Toillustrate, when a controllability indicator 930 indicates acorresponding trickplay feature is available, the control module 932 canmanipulate the touch screen 936 so as to display the soft button for thetrickplay feature. Conversely, when the trickplay feature isunavailable, the control module 932 can manipulate the touch screen 936so as to omit display of the soft button for the trickplay feature. Anexample of a soft button-based indicator is described in greater detailbelow with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

In one embodiment, the remote control device 928 can be configured toprovide one or more audible or visual indicators either temporarilyfollowing the selection of a multimedia stream or following a user'smanipulation of a button feature associated with the trickplay featureor by providing the one or more indicators for most or all of theduration of the presentation of the multimedia stream (or the durationof its selection focus). The temporary provision of an audible/visualindicator can reduce power consumption and minimize intrusion into theuser's viewing experience. However, as the presentation of themultimedia content channel progresses, the user may forget about theavailability status of trickplay features and thus may attempt to enactunavailable trickplay features, to the consternation of the user.

To help ensure that the user remains aware of the availability status oftrickplay features for a multimedia stream selected/presented, thecontrol module 932 uses the sudden motion of the remote control device928 as detected by the motion sensor 942 to reinitiate provision of thetrickplay indicator. Such sudden motion often results from a userpicking up the remote control device 928 or from the user rotating ormoving the remote control device 928 in preparation for use of theremote control device 928. Such motion therefore can represent anappropriate point to remind the user of the availability status of oneor more trickplay features. This motion-initiated process is describedin greater detail below with reference to FIG. 16.

FIG. 11 illustrates a particular implementation of the process performedat block 1010 of method 1000 of FIG. 10 in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. In the implementation of FIG. 11,one trickplay indicator is provided via the remote control device 928(FIG. 9) to indicate an availability of a trickplay feature anddifferent trickplay indicator is provided via the remote control device928 to indicate an unavailability of the trickplay feature for amultimedia stream in response to its selection. At block 1102, thetrickplay feature is identified as either available or unavailable. Ifthe trickplay feature is available, at block 1104 the control module 932manipulates the LED bank 938, the speaker 940, the touch screen 936, ora combination thereof, to provide a first trickplay indicator.Otherwise, if the trickplay feature is unavailable, at block 1106 thecontrol module 932 manipulates the LED bank 938, the speaker 940, thetouch screen 936, or a combination thereof, to provide a secondtrickplay indicator, where the second trickplay indicator differs fromthe first trickplay indicator in a manner that conveys the availabilitystatus of the trickplay feature to a user. To illustrate, the firsttrickplay indicator can be the activation of a blue LED and the secondtrickplay indicator can be the activation of a red LED. Further, thefirst trickplay indicator can be a different indicator type than theindicator type of the second trickplay indicator. For example, the firsttrickplay indicator can be the activation of an LED and the secondtrickplay indicator can be the playing of a particular sound.

FIG. 12 illustrates another example implementation of the processperformed at block 1010 of method 1000 of FIG. 10 in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the implementation ofFIG. 12, a trickplay indicator is provided via the remote control device928 (FIG. 9) to indicate the trickplay feature is unavailable orprovision of a trickplay indicator via the remote control device 928 isomitted to indicate the trickplay feature is available. At block 1202,the trickplay feature is identified as either available or unavailablefor a multimedia stream. If the trickplay feature is unavailable, atblock 1204 the control module 932 manipulates the LED bank 938, thespeaker 940, the touch screen 936, or a combination thereof, to providea trickplay indicator. Otherwise, if the trickplay feature is available,at block 1206 control module 932 refrains from manipulating othercomponents of the remote control device 928 so as to omit provision ofthe trickplay feature, whereby the absence of the provision of thetrickplay indicator indicates to the user that the trickplay feature isavailable. In an alternate embodiment, a trickplay indicator can beprovided at the remote control device 928 to indicate the trickplayfeature is available and provision of the trickplay indicator can beomitted at the remote control device 928 to indicate the trickplayfeature is unavailable.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example implementation whereby a LED or otherlight source is selectively activated at the remote control device 928so as to provide to the user an indication of the availability status ofa trickplay feature for a multimedia stream being selected/presented inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Inthe depicted example, the remote control device 928 includes an LED 1302at a particular location on the face of the button panel 934 of theremote control device 928. The control module 932 (FIG. 9) canselectively activate or deactivate the LED 1302 so as to provide to theuser an indication of trickplay features. In another embodiment, thebutton panel 934 includes a trickplay button 1304 (e.g., a skip button)configured such that the corresponding trickplay command is generated atthe wireless interface 936 in response to the manipulation of thetrickplay button 1304 by the user. The trickplay button 1304 can includeone or more LEDs 1306 located in proximity to the trickplay button 1304(or underneath a transparent or translucent cover for the trickplaybutton 1304). In this instance, the control module 932 can selectivelyactivate the LED 1306 to indicate whether the particular trickplayfeature associated with the trickplay button 1304 is available. In thecase of two or more LEDs 1306 for the trickplay button 1304, each with adifferent color, the LED 1306 having the appropriate color for theavailability status of the trickplay feature can be activated to conveythe availability status of the trickplay feature to the user.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate another example implementation whereby softbuttons of the touch screen 936 of the remote control device 928 areselectively manipulated so as to provide to the user an indication ofthe availability status of a trickplay feature for a multimedia streambeing selected/presented in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. In the depicted example, the touch screen 936includes soft buttons 1404, 1406, and 1408 corresponding to certaintrickplay features (e.g., pause, fast-forward, and fast-rewind,respectively). The control module 932 (FIG. 9) can manipulate the touchscreen 936 to selectively display the soft buttons 1404, 1406, and 1408based on the availability status of the corresponding trickplay featuresfor the multimedia stream. To illustrate, in FIG. 14 controllabilityindicators 930 (FIG. 9) received at the remote control device 928indicate that each of the pause, fast-forward, and fast-reversetrickplay features are available and thus each of the soft buttons 1404,1406, and 1408 is enabled at the touch screen 936. However, in FIG. 15the controllability indicators 930 received at the remote control device928 indicate that only the pause trickplay feature is available and thusonly the soft button 1404 is activated at the touch screen 936 (theomission of the display of the soft buttons 1406 and 1408 is illustratedby dashed lines for these soft buttons in FIG. 16). Thus, the omission,or deactivation, of the soft buttons 1406 and 1408 would prevent, or atleast dissuade, the user from attempting to initiate an unavailablefast-forward or fast-reverse presentation of the content of themultimedia stream.

Although FIGS. 13-15 illustrate examples of visual indicators oftrickplay availability at a remote control device, other techniques forproviding a visual or audible indicator at a remote control device canbe implemented using the guidelines provided herein without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16, an example method 1600 for initiating provision ofan indicator of the availability status of a trickplay feature at theremote control device 928 of FIG. 9 is illustrated in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure. At block 1602, theremote control device 928 receives a controllability indicator 930 (FIG.9) representative of the availability status of a correspondingtrickplay feature for a multimedia stream being selected/presented. Atblock 1604 the control module 932 (FIG. 9) of the remote control device928 buffers the controllability indicator 930 and at block 1606 thecontrol module 932 manipulates one or more of the LED bank 938, thespeaker 940, or the touch screen 936 (FIG. 9) to temporarily provide oneor more trickplay indicators of the availability status. The provisionof the one or more trickplay indicators at the remote control device 928ends and at block 1608 the remote control device 928 determines if anupdated controllability indicator 930 has been received for thetrickplay feature (e.g., a new section of the multimedia stream has beenpresented and has different trickplay availability). If an updatedcontrollability indicator 930 has been received, the method 1600 returnsto block 1604 to buffer the updated controllability indicator 930 andprocess accordingly. Otherwise, at block 1610 the control module 932waits for the motion sensor 942 (FIG. 9) to detect motion of the remotecontrol device 928. If motion is detected, the method flow returns toblock 1606, whereby the control module 932 accesses the bufferedcontrollability indicator 930 and repeats the temporarily provision ofone or more indicators of the availability status of the trickplayfeature at the remote control device 928 in response to the motion ofthe remote control device 938. In this way the user can be reminded ofthe availability status of the trickplay feature for the multimediastream being selected/processed when the user picks up or moves theremote control device 928 to provide user input.

FIG. 17 shows an IPTV system 1700 including a client facing tier 1702,an application tier 1704, an acquisition tier 1706, and an operationsand management tier 1708. Each tier 1702, 1704, 1706, and 1708 iscoupled to one or both of a private network 1710 and a public network1712. For example, the client-facing tier 1702 can be coupled to theprivate network 1710, while the application tier 1704 can be coupled tothe private network 1710 and to the public network 1712 such as theInternet. The acquisition tier 1706 can also be coupled to the privatenetwork 1710 and to the public network 1712. Moreover, the operationsand management tier 1708 can be coupled to the public network 1712.

The various tiers 1702, 1704, 1706 and 1708 communicate with each othervia the private network 1710 and the public network 1712. For instance,the client-facing tier 1702 can communicate with the application tier1704 and the acquisition tier 1706 via the private network 1710. Theapplication tier 1704 can also communicate with the acquisition tier1706 via the private network 1710. Further, the application tier 1704can communicate with the acquisition tier 1706 and the operations andmanagement tier 1708 via the public network 1712. Moreover, theacquisition tier 1706 can communicate with the operations and managementtier 1708 via the public network 1712. In a particular embodiment,elements of the application tier 1704 can communicate directly with theclient-facing tier 1702.

The client-facing tier 1702 can communicate with user equipment via aprivate access network 1766, such as an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) network. In an illustrative embodiment, modems such as a firstmodem 1714 and a second modem 1722 can be coupled to the private accessnetwork 1766. The client-facing tier 1702 can communicate with a firstrepresentative set-top box (STB) device 1716 via the first modem 1714and with a second representative STB device 1724 via the second modem1722. The STB devices 1716 and 1724 represent implementations of themultimedia receiver 102 of FIG. 1 or the multimedia receiver 902 of FIG.9. The client-facing tier 1702 can communicate with a large number ofset-top boxes over a wide geographic area, such as a regional area, ametropolitan area, a viewing area, or any other suitable geographic areathat can be supported by networking the client-facing tier 1702 tonumerous set-top box devices. In one embodiment, the client-facing tier1702 can be coupled to the modems 1714 and 1722 via fiber optic cables.Alternatively, the modems 1714 and 1722 can be digital subscriber line(DSL) modems that are coupled to one or more network nodes via twistedpairs, and the client-facing tier 1702 can be coupled to the networknodes via fiber-optic cables. Each set-top box device 1716 and 1724 canprocess data received from the private access network 1766 via an IPTVsoftware platform such as Microsoft® TV IPTV Edition.

The first set-top box device 1716 can be coupled to a first displaydevice 1718, such as a first television monitor, and the second set-topbox device 1724 can be coupled to a second display device 1726, such asa second television monitor. Moreover, the first set-top box device 1716can communicate with a first remote control 1720, and the second set-topbox device can communicate with a second remote control 1728. In anexemplary, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device 1716 and1724 can receive data or video from the client-facing tier 1702 via theprivate access network 1766 and render or display the data or video atthe display device 1718 or 1726 to which it is coupled. The set-top boxdevices 1716 and 1724 thus may include tuners that receive and decodetelevision programming information for transmission to the displaydevices 1718 and 1726. Further, the set-top box devices 1716 and 1724can include an STB processor 1770 and an STB memory device 1772 that isaccessible to the STB processor. In a particular embodiment, the set-topbox devices 1716 and 1724 can also communicate commands received fromthe remote controls 1720 and 1728 back to the client-facing tier 1702via the private access network 1766.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 1702 can include aclient-facing tier (CFT) switch 1730 that manages communication betweenthe client-facing tier 1702 and the private access network 1766 andbetween the client-facing tier 1702 and the private network 1710. Asshown, the CFT switch 1730 is coupled to one or more data servers 1732that store data transmitted in response to user requests, such asvideo-on-demand material. The CFT switch 1730 can also be coupled to aterminal server 1734 that provides terminal devices, such as a gameapplication server and other devices with a common connection point tothe private network 1710. In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch1730 can also be coupled to a video-on-demand (VOD) server 1736.

The application tier 1704 can communicate with both the private network1710 and the public network 1712. In this embodiment, the applicationtier 1704 can include a first application tier (APP) switch 1738 and asecond APP switch 1740. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch1738 can be coupled to the second APP switch 1740. The first APP switch1738 can be coupled to an application server 1742 and to an OSS/BSSgateway 1744. The application server 1742 provides applications to theset-top box devices 1716 and 1724 via the private access network 1766,so the set-top box devices 1716 and 1724 can provide functions such asdisplay, messaging, processing of IPTV data and VOD material. In aparticular embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 1744 includes operationsystems and support (OSS) data, as well as billing systems and support(BSS) data.

The second APP switch 1740 can be coupled to a domain controller 1746that provides web access, for example, to users via the public network1712. The second APP switch 1740 can be coupled to a subscriber andsystem store 1748 that includes account information, such as accountinformation that is associated with users who access the system 1700 viathe private network 1710 or the public network 1712. In a particularembodiment, the application tier 1704 can also include a client gateway1750 that communicates data directly to the client-facing tier 1702. Inthis embodiment, the client gateway 1750 can be coupled directly to theCFT switch 1730. The client gateway 1750 can provide user access to theprivate network 1710 and the tiers coupled thereto.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices 1716 and 1724 canaccess the system via the private access network 1766 using informationreceived from the client gateway 1750. The private access network 1766provides security for the private network 1710. User devices can accessthe client gateway 1750 via the private access network 1766, and theclient gateway 1750 can allow such devices to access the private network1710 once the devices are authenticated or verified. Similarly, theclient gateway 1750 can prevent unauthorized devices, such as hackercomputers or stolen set-top box devices, from accessing the privatenetwork 1710 by denying access to these devices beyond the privateaccess network 1766.

For example, when the set-top box device 1716 accesses the system 1700via the private access network 1766, the client gateway 1750 can verifysubscriber information by communicating with the subscriber and systemstore 1748 via the private network 1710, the first APP switch 1738 andthe second APP switch 1740. Further, the client gateway 1750 can verifybilling information and status by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway1744 via the private network 1710 and the first APP switch 1738. TheOSS/BSS gateway 1744 can transmit a query across the first APP switch1738, to the second APP switch 1740, and the second APP switch 1740 cancommunicate the query across the public network 1712 to the OSS/BSSserver 1764. After the client gateway 1750 confirms subscriber and/orbilling information, the client gateway 1750 can allow the set-top boxdevice 1716 access to IPTV content and VOD content. If the clientgateway 1750 cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top boxdevice 1716, such as because it is connected to a different twistedpair, the client gateway 1750 can deny transmissions to and from theset-top box device 1716 beyond the private access network 1766.

The acquisition tier 1706 includes an acquisition tier (AQT) switch 1752that communicates with the private network 1710. The AQT switch 1752 canalso communicate with the operations and management tier 1708 via thepublic network 1712. In a particular embodiment, the AQT switch 1752 canbe coupled to a live acquisition server 1754 that receives televisioncontent, for example, from a broadcast service 1756. Further, the AQTswitch can be coupled to a video-on-demand importer server 1758 thatstores television content received at the acquisition tier 1706 andcommunicate the stored content to the client-facing tier 1702 via theprivate network 1710.

The operations and management tier 1708 can include an operations andmanagement tier (OMT) switch 1760 that conducts communication betweenthe operations and management tier 1708 and the public network 1712. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the OMT switch 1760 is coupled to a TV2server 1762. Additionally, the OMT switch 1760 can be coupled to anOSS/BSS server 1764 and to a simple network management protocol (SNMP)monitor 1767 that monitors network devices. In a particular embodiment,the OMT switch 1760 can communicate with the AQT switch 1752 via thepublic network 1712.

In a particular embodiment during operation of the IPTV system, the liveacquisition server 1754 can acquire television content from thebroadcast service 1756. The live acquisition server 1754 in turn cantransmit the television content to the AQT switch 1752 and the AQTswitch can transmit the television content to the CFT switch 1730 viathe private network 1710. Further, the television content can be encodedat the D-servers 1732, and the CFT switch 1730 can communicate thetelevision content to the modems 1714 and 1722 via the private accessnetwork 1766. The set-top box devices 1716 and 1724 can receive thetelevision content from the modems 1714 and 1722, decode the televisioncontent, and transmit the content to the display devices 1718 and 1726according to commands from the remote control devices 1720 and 1728.

Additionally, at the acquisition tier 1706, the VOD importer server 1758can receive content from one or more VOD sources outside the IPTV system1700, such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content. The VODimporter server 1758 can transmit the VOD content to the AQT switch1752, and the AQT switch 1752 in turn can communicate the material tothe CFT switch 1730 via the private network 1710. The VOD content can bestored at one or more servers, such as the VOD server 1736.

When a user issues a request for VOD content to the set-top box device1716 or 1724, the request can be transmitted over the private accessnetwork 1766 to the VOD server 1736 via the CFT switch 1730. Uponreceiving such a request, the VOD server 1736 can retrieve requested VODcontent and transmit the content to the set-top box device 1716 or 1724across the private access network 1766 via the CFT switch 1730. In anillustrative embodiment, the live acquisition server 1754 can transmitthe television content to the AQT switch 1752, and the AQT switch 1752in turn can transmit the television content to the OMT switch 1760 viathe public network 1712. In this embodiment, the OMT switch 1760 cantransmit the television content to the TV2 server 1762 for display tousers accessing the user interface at the TV2 server. For example, auser can access the TV2 server 1762 using a personal computer (PC) 1768coupled to the public network 1712.

The domain controller 1746 communicates with the public network 1712 viathe second APP switch 1740. Additionally, the domain controller 1746 cancommunicate via the public network 1712 with the PC 1768. For example,the domain controller 1746 can display a web portal via the publicnetwork 1712 and allow users to access the web portal using the PC 1768.Further, in an illustrative embodiment, the domain controller 1746 cancommunicate with at least one wireless network access point 1778 over adata network 1776. In this embodiment, each wireless network accessdevice 1778 can communicate with user wireless devices such as acellular telephone 1784.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices can include an STBcomputer program 1774 that is embedded within the STB memory device1772. The STB computer program 1774 can contain instructions to receiveand execute at least one user television viewing preference that a userhas entered by accessing an Internet user account via the domaincontroller 1746. For example, the user can use the PC 1768 to access aweb portal maintained by the domain controller 1746 via the Internet.The domain controller 1746 can query the subscriber and system store1748 via the private network 1710 for account information associatedwith the user. In a particular embodiment, the account information canassociate the user's Internet account with the second set-top box device1724. For instance, in an illustrative embodiment, the accountinformation can relate the user's account to the second set-top boxdevice 1724 by associating the user account with an IP address of thesecond set-top box device, with data relating to one or more twistedpairs connected with the second set-top box device, with data related toone or more fiber optic cables connected with the second set-top boxdevice, with an alphanumeric identifier of the second set-top boxdevice, with any other data that is suitable for associating the secondset-top box device with a user account, or with any combination ofthese.

The STB computer program 1774 can contain instructions to receive manytypes of user preferences from the domain controller 1746 via the accessnetwork 1766. For example, the STB computer program 1774 can includeinstructions to receive a request to record at least one televisionprogram at a video content storage module such as a digital videorecorder (DVR) 1782 within the second set-top box device 1724. In thisexample embodiment, the STB computer program 1774 can includeinstructions to transmit the request to the DVR 1782, where thetelevision program(s) are recorded. In an illustrative embodiment, theSTB computer program 1774 can include instructions to receive from theDVR 1782 a recording status with respect to one or more of thetelevision programs and to transmit at least one message regarding thestatus to a wireless device, such as the cellular telephone 1784. Themessage can be received at the CFT switch 1730, for instance, andcommunicated to the domain controller 1746 across the private network1710 via the second APP switch 1740. Further, the domain controller 1746can transmit the message to the wireless data network 1776, directly orvia the public network 1712, and on to the wireless network access point1778. The message can then be transmitted to the cellular telephone1784. In an illustrative embodiment, the status can be sent via awireless access protocol (WAP).

FIG. 18 shows an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system1800 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The computer system 1800 can include a set of instructionsthat can be executed to cause the computer system 1800 to perform anyone or more of the methods or computer based functions disclosed herein.The computer system 1800 may operate as a standalone device or may beconnected, e.g., using a network, to other computer systems orperipheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 1800 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into, for example, a STB device. In aparticular embodiment, the computer system 1800 can be implemented usingelectronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single computer system 1800 is illustrated, the term“system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems orsub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiplesets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

The computer system 1800 may include a processor 1802, e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both.Moreover, the computer system 1800 can include a main memory 1804 and astatic memory 1806 that can communicate with each other via a bus 1808.As shown, the computer system 1800 may further include a video displayunit 1810, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic lightemitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or acathode ray tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system 1800 mayinclude an input device 1812, such as a keyboard, and a cursor controldevice 1814, such as a mouse. The computer system 1800 can also includea disk drive unit 1816, a signal generation device 1818, such as aspeaker or remote control, and a network interface device 1820.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 18, the disk drive unit1816 may include a computer-readable medium 1822 in which one or moresets of instructions 1824, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 1824 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 1824 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 1804,the static memory 1806, and/or within the processor 1802 duringexecution by the computer system 1800. The main memory 1804 and theprocessor 1802 also may include computer-readable media. The networkinterface device 1820 can provide connectivity to a network 1826, e.g.,a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or other network.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations such asapplication specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more ofthe methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions or receives and executes instructions responsiveto a propagated signal, so that a device connected to a network cancommunicate voice, video or data over the network 1826. Further, theinstructions 1824 may be transmitted or received over the network 1826via the network interface device 1820.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing a set of instructions for execution by a processor or thatcause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods oroperations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writeable memory.Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-opticalor optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device tocapture carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over atransmission medium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or otherself-contained information archive or set of archives may be considereda distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and otherequivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may bestored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the invention is not limited to suchstandards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and otherpacket switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP)represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed hereinare considered equivalents thereof

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description of the Drawings, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on itsown as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, tothe maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosedsubject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

1. A method comprising: receiving a controllability indicator at aportable communication device, the controllability indicator receivedfrom a stationary communication device communicatively coupled to theportable communication device, wherein the controllability indicatorindicates whether a trickplay feature is available for controlling apresentation of multimedia content, and wherein the controllabilityindicator is determined from a characterization of the multimediacontent; and presenting a trickplay indicator at the portablecommunication device according to the controllability indicator toindicate whether the trickplay feature is available.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the trickplay indicator comprises at least one of avisual indicator or an audible indicator.
 3. The method of claim 1,comprising presenting the trickplay indicator in response to user inputdetected by the portable communication device.
 4. The method of claim 1,comprising activating the trickplay indicator at the portablecommunication device in response to the controllability indicatorindicating that the trickplay feature is available for the multimediacontent.
 5. The method of claim 2, comprising deactivating the trickplayindicator at the portable communication device in response to thecontrollability indicator indicating that the trickplay feature isunavailable for the multimedia content.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the trickplay indicator comprises first and second lightsources, and wherein the method comprises: activating the first lightsource at the portable communication device in response to thecontrollability indicator indicating that the trickplay feature isavailable for the multimedia content; and activating the second lightsource at the portable communication device in response to thecontrollability indicator indicating that the trickplay feature isunavailable for the multimedia content.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the second light source differs from the first light source inat least one of color, size, or placement location at the portablecommunication device.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the trickplayindicator comprises an element of a graphical user interface, andwherein the method comprises: displaying the element at a display of theportable communication device in response to the controllabilityindicator indicating that the trickplay feature is available for themultimedia content; and omitting a presentation of the element at thedisplay in response to the controllability indicator indicating that thetrickplay feature is unavailable for the multimedia content.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the trickplay indicator comprises an audibleindicator, and wherein the method comprises: outputting the audibleindicator in a first state in response to the controllability indicatorindicating that the trickplay feature is available for the multimediacontent; and outputting the audible indicator in a second state inresponse to the controllability indicator indicating that the trickplayfeature is unavailable for the multimedia content.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, comprising presenting the trickplay indicator in response to adetected motion of the portable communication device.
 11. A receiver,comprising: a memory storing computer instructions; and a processorcoupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the computerinstructions the processor performs operations, comprising: receivingmedia content; characterizing the media content; determining whether atrickplay feature is available for the media content according to thecharacterization of the media content; and transmitting to a portabledevice a controllability indicator indicating whether the trickplayfeature is available for controlling a presentation of the media contentby the receiver.
 12. The receiver of claim 11, wherein the portabledevice presents a trickplay indicator according to the controllabilityindicator.
 13. The receiver of claim 12, wherein the trickplay indicatorcomprises at least one of a visual indicator or an audible indicator.14. The receiver of claim 11, wherein responsive to executing thecomputer instructions, the processor performs operations comprising:receiving from the portable device a signal indicating a selectedfunction of the trickplay feature; and presenting the media contentaccording to the selected function.
 15. A computer-readable storagemedium, comprising computer instructions, which when executed by atleast one processor causes the at least one processor to performoperations, comprising: receiving from a media receiver acontrollability indicator indicating whether a trickplay feature isavailable for media content, wherein the controllability indicator isbased on a characterization of the media content; and presenting atrickplay indicator based on the controllability indicator to indicatewhether the media content supports the trickplay feature.
 16. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the trickplayindicator comprises at least one of a visual indicator or an audibleindicator.
 17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, whereinthe trickplay indicator comprises at least one light source, and whereinexecuting the computer instructions causes the at least one processor toperform operations, comprising: activating a first state of the at leastone light source in response to the controllability indicator indicatingthat the trickplay feature is available for the media content; andactivating a second state of the at least one light source in responseto the controllability indicator indicating that the trickplay featureis unavailable for the media content.
 18. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 15, wherein the trickplay indicator is presentedaccording to at least one of a color emanating from a light source, anillumination intensity of the light source, an audible signal, orcombinations thereof.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim15, wherein the trickplay indicator comprises a graphical element of agraphical user interface, and wherein executing the computerinstructions causes the at least one processor to perform operations,comprising: presenting the graphical element in response to thecontrollability indicator indicating that the trickplay feature isavailable for the media content; and omitting a presentation of thegraphical element in response to the controllability indicatorindicating that the trickplay feature is unavailable for the mediacontent.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, whereinthe trickplay indicator comprises an audible source, and whereinexecuting the computer instructions causes the at least one processor toperform operations, comprising: causing the audible source to present afirst audible indication in response to the controllability indicatorindicating that the trickplay feature is available for the mediacontent; and causing the audible source to present a second audibleindication in response to the controllability indicator indicating thatthe trickplay feature is unavailable for the media content.